Trinity Mirror chief executive Sly Bailey is encouraging newspaper staff to come forward with proposals to help safeguard the future of the company, following the announcement that more redundancies are a possibility.

The chief executive wrote to staff at the group's Newcastle titles, which include the Evening Chronicle and The Journal, after the National Union of Journalists chapel there sent a letter in protest at the "short-sighted decision to consider redundancies".

And Sly has now defended the announcement and said it was not intended to be "threatening".

She wrote: "We have been doing all that we can to avoid getting to redundancies and I would ask you to see our policy of not filling all vacancies, and even the decision to remove the budgets for Christmas events, in this light.

"In the same way it was important to announce the cost review as soon as possible so that we could identify any costs which might be removed short of redundancies.

"Stating this was not intended to be ;threatening'. Quite simply, we are obliged, under the regulations, to inform and consult 'on the situation, structure and probable development of employment and on anticipatory measures that are envisaged especially where they may involve a threat to employment'.

"I am disappointed that you concluded your letter by saying that you 'expect to hear more constructive proposals for the future of this company'. I would encourage you to get involved and make some of your own too."

The letter follws the company's decision to take "further steps to protect its position", and to review measures which will help it postpone incurring costs – or reduce existing ones.

The NUJ is working with personnel staff at the company to determine the exact nature of planned redundancies, and a ballot on industrial action remains a possibility.